Car-coupling



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J .'WALKER. GAR COUPLING.

No. 465,300. j Patented Dec. 15, 18 91.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 2.

W. J. WALKER. GAR COUPLING.

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WITNESSES M; W, mummJm/m NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVILLIAM J. WALKER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE \VALKER AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER MAN- UFACTURINGCOMPANY, OF EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION form'ulg part of Letters Patent No. 465,300, datedDecember 15, 1891.

Application filed August 21, 1891. Serial No.403 .301. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. WALKER, of the city of St. Louis, andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Couplings, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and it consistsin the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fullyhereinafter described-and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-couplingembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same withthe hook swung open, the section being taken on line X X of Fig. 4. Fig.3 is a detail perspective view showing an improved locking device on anenlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a sectional side elevation of the couplingwith the hook swung open, the section being taken on the line 3/ y ofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a plan View of the under side of the drawhead, thehook being removed therefrom.

The object of my invention is to provide a novel and simplifiedconstruction in that class of car-couplings commonly known as the Janneytype, whereby greater strength in a'locking device will be brought aboutand the general operation of the device will be improved.

A further object is to strengthen and improve the operation of the hookand the portion1 of the draw-head which co-operates therewit Heretoforethe hooks in this class of carcoupling have been greatly weakened nearthe point at which they are attached to the draw-head by being providedwith a recess or shoulder for limiting the outward movement of saidhooks. This objection, as well as oth ers, is obviated by my improvedconstruction, whichI will now proceed to describe.

1 represents the draw-head, the rearportion of which is of the usualconstruction and adapted to be secured to the timbers of the car in thewell-known manner. The front or forward portion of said draw-head in itsgeneral outward appearance resembles that of the Janney type of coupler,and my improved coupling is designed to couple with the ordinary .Ianneycoupling whenever it becomes necessary.

2 indicates the rotary hook, which approximates the ordinary shape, andis attached to the forward end of the draw-head by means of a verticalpin 3,which allows it to partially rotate between ears cast upon saiddraw-head.

4. represents the tail end of the rotary hook, which is extendedrearwardly a considerable distance and made longer than the tail end ofthe usual hook, and its rear extremity is provided with a rounded or camsurface 5 for engaging with a rounded or cam surface on the front end ofthe locking device, a recess or cut-away portion forming a flatsupportingsurface 6, which is also adapted to be engaged by said lockingdevice, and with a limiting stop or shoulder 7, which latter is adaptedto come in contact with one side of the locking device and thereby limitthe movement of said hookwhen swung outwardly, as will appearhereinafter.

8 indicates the locking device, which is of such construction as toafford great strength, to wit: It is pivoted at its rear end to thedraw-head in any suitable manner so that its forward end may move up anddown in a vertical plane; but preferably its rear end is pivotallymounted upon a pin 9,passing through an aperture 10, and its forward endis pro vided with two projections 11 and 12, respectively, each castintegral with the body of the locking device, so that the projection 11will engage an opening or bearing 13, formed in the bottom of thedraw-head, and also be engaged by the cam-surface 5 and flatsupporting-surface 6, formed upon the tail end of the hook, as willappear hereinafter. The projection 12 on said locking device 8 isadapted to form a stop for the same and limit its downward movement bycoming in con-- tact with the internal surface of the lower .walls ofthe draw-head, and said projection shaped passage 16, so that its upperend will project above the upper surface of the drawhead for the purposeof elevating the free end of said-docking device when it is desired torelease the hook in uncoupling. This flared passage 16 permits plenty ofroom for the operation of the chainor other device by means of -whichthe locking device is raised or elevated, and it also permits the freeend thereof to pass upwardly thereinto. (See Fig. 4.) .1- f

The operation is as follows: The normal locked position of the parts isthat shown. in Fig. 1, wherein the locking device 8 is shown at thelimit of its downward movement with the projection 11 projectingdownwardly through the aperture 13 in the bottom of the draw-head, andthe projection (not shown in Fig. l) resting upon the lower internalsurface of the draw-head. WVhen a strain isimposed upon the hook 2, (adraft strain,) it should be clear that the surface 18 on. the tail endof said hook will bear against the side of said locking device which isopposite the projection 12,and thereby said strain will be transmittedto the side wall 19 of the aperture 13 by reason of the projection 11hearing thereagainst, and a portion of said strain will be transmittedto the side wall 20 of the draw-head by reason of the projection 12bearing thereagainst. In this way the strain is distributed in twodifferent parts of the draw-head, obviating in a great measure anyliability of either part to be broken. For the purpose of strengtheningthe side 19 of the aperture 13, against which strain comes, I provide aseries of ribs 21,which are cast u pon the underside of thedraw-head andextend laterally from the side of said aperture to the side of thedraw-head. (See Fig. 5.) When the hook 2 is in the position shown inFigs. 2and 4, the locking device 8 is supported by the camsurface 5 andflat supporting-surface 6 upon the tail end of the said hook in positionready to be dropped when a coupling is to be made. It will be observedthat the locking device 8 is always supported in this position, exceptafter a coupling has been made, so that there is no occasion for thechain 15 to drop down within the opening in the draw-head and be caughtbetween the locking device and the walls of thedraw-head, which hasoccurred in many cases in other car-couplings heretofore. It will alsobe observed that the hook 2 is limited in its outward movement by meansof the shoulder 7 coming into contact with the side of the lockingdevice that is opposite the projection 12, thereby obviating anynecessity for forming a stopping notch or recess in said hook, which hasbeen done heretofore and, as before stated, has greatly weakened thehook andrendered it liablet to breakage at the point where such recesswas formed. It will further be observed that the aperture 13 in thebottom of the draw-head is adapted posited upon the interior of thedraw-head.

The movement of the tail end of the hook 2 and the movement of thelocking device 8 tends to keep the interior of the draw-head.

clear of all accumulations, they being automatically discharged throughthe aperture 13, thereby preventing all interference with the properoperation of said parts at all tlrnes.

hat I claim is 1. The combination of a draw-hook, a hook 2, adap ted toswing in a horizontal plane and pivoted to said draw-head, a lockingdevlce 8, pivoted at its rear end within said drawhead, the tail end ofsaid hook having a rounded cam-surface 5 and flat supportingsurface 6,upon which the free end of said hook is supported, except when the hookis in a coupled or locked position, and means for elevating said lockingdevice after it has dropped to the limit of its downward movement,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a car-coupling, the improved locking device for hooks of the Janney type, the same having an aperture 10 in one end by means of which itis adapted to be pivoted to the draw-head and its forward end providedwith two projections 11 and 12, respectively, each cast integral withthe bodyof the locking device, so that the projection ll may engage anopening in the bottom of the draw-head and also be engaged by the tailend of the hook, and whereby the projection 12 may form a stop and limitthe downward move- 'ment of the free end of the locking device by comingin contact with the internal surface of the lower wall of the draw-headand also form astop to limit the lateral movement of the locking device,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head, as 1, having a flaredor funnelshaped passage 16 formed in its upper wall and communicatingwith the interior of the draw-head, a hook, as 2,pivoted to saiddrawhead, a locking device, as 8, mounted within the draw-head andpivoted at a point in the rear of said flared passage 16, a chain, as15, connected to the free end of said locking device and passingupwardly through said flared passage 16, the free end of said lockingdevice adapted to be elevated into said flared passage, and means forlimiting the downward movement of the free end of the looking device,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. J. WVALKER.

